EC holds consultative meeting in TN for LS polls

Chennai: The Election Commission on Friday held a consultative meeting with representatives of major registered political parties in Tamil Nadu in connection with the Lok Sabha polls due next year.

The meeting chaired by Deputy Election Commissioner Sudhir Tripathi in the presence of state Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Kumar was attended by representatives of ruling AIADMK, DMK, DMDK, BJP and the Left parties among others.
DMK Organising Secretary TKS Elangovan, MP, who attended the meeting, later told reporters that almost all parties preferred having a single phase polling.

DMK raised objections against ruling parties using party symbols allotted to them by the EC in government projects, thus "taking undue advantage" and demanded withdrawal of the same if any violations were found.
DMDK MLA VC Chandrakumar said his party demanded that steps be taken to prevent money power during elections besides seeking barring of persons from contesting elections if charges of money distribution were proved against them.